Description

According to Greek mythology, Apollo and Artemis were born on this tiny island of Cyclades. A big Apollo's sanctuary attracted pilgrims from all over Greece. The archaeological site of Delos restores the image of an important Mediterranean port that between 2nd and 1st centuries has an average population of 25000. The archaeological site is exceptionally extensive and rich. The island of Delos is among the first important Greek sites in the Aegean world to have captured the attention of archaeologists. At 1455, Cyriac of Ancona, one of the founding fathers of archaeology visited the ruins and made drawings and described the Naxian colossus of Apollo. In the 17th century, the Venetians removed it to their city, placing it at the entrance to the Arsenal of Venice where there still stands today one of the ancient marble lions of Naxos from the terrace of Lions. In 1990 the island of Deloswas added to the World Heritage List of UNESCO.